Singapore October 2012: Mercedes and BMW on top

* See the Top 20 best-selling brands by clicking on the title! Many thanks to Michael *

Singaporean sales figures are only accessible by brand so far in 2012 and 2,270 new vehicles found a buyer in October in the country, bringing the year-to-date total to 23,469. In 2011, BMW ended 9 consecutive years of Toyota domination to become the most popular manufacturer in Singapore for the first time and it looks like it could reiterate that feat in 2012. After 10 months and thanks to 373 sales and 16.4% share in October (#2), the German brand has sold 3,989 units for a 17% share in Singapore. Mercedes ranks #1 this month with 403 sales and a massive 17.8% share, bringing its year-to-date total to 3,760 units and 16% at #2.

Lamborghini Aventador

Volkswagen, #1 last month, is down to #3 in October but with 369 sales it is still at a very high 16.3% of the market vs. 12.6% and #4 year-to-date. Toyota ranks #4 this month with 341 units and 15% vs. 3,489 and 14.9% year-to-date (#4). Notice also Audi up one spot to #5 and 6.5%, Peugeot up to 2.7%, Ford up 4 ranks to #11, Renault up 8 to #18, Skoda up 18 to #19, Bentley and Maserati each up one to #23 and #27 and Lamborghini up 7 to #28.

The reason why so many premium brands appear atop the Singaporean ranking lies in the Certificates of Entitlement, a government program meaning Singapore residents have to bid for the right to buy a motor vehicle, with the number of certificates deliberately restricted. In October 2012 COEs prices up again to a mind-boggling S$77,200 for cars under 1,600cc and S$92,400 for cars over 1,600cc, which in most cases corresponds to double the car price itself! Only the very rich can afford to buy a new car in Singapore these days…